Natural Capital || David McFall

Natural Capital: How do we value it?

David McFall

Quite often the true value of something is not fully realised until it is gone. Take for example water, land and air. Without it what life on the planet and/or grain in the bin?

A mature society respects the learnings of history, is aware of the now and ever mindful for the future. Everything ultimately is merely passing through. sensibility ‘equity’ and ‘quality’ are just two aspirational words that come to mind – as do ‘truth’ and ‘transparency’.

Each and every human will need to consciously consider their position points on these words and in response set about a desire to action matters ‘in hand’ and if possible those ‘out of hand’. the wellness of the planet then it is hard not to do your level best with what time and capacity you have. Understanding your place mark is a good start and for those privileged to manage land it is obvious that there is an entrusted stewardship of preserving ‘natural capital’.

The precaution is simply to not equate ‘natural capital’ as an ‘asset’ rather a ‘gift’. It’s a valued task to take time, reflect and consider the two levels of emotion and energy that surrounds those simple words i.e. is newborn life an asset or gift?

In the latter all capability will be orientated to reverence, treading lightly and doing well communally. The former lacks heart and being more head based is subject to less attachment and action to care…after all capital is a common economic term and invites prospects of winners and losers.

How does this relate to farming?

As indicated earlier access and authority over land and expression of your creativity and values onto it is a privilege.

Despite the clinical application of cold terms like agribusiness/ units this or that and or other prescriptive style talk farming remains an environmental interface activity culturally driven towards capturing energy in one form and converting it to another for usable ends.

Farming prosperity therefore sits within the totality and functionality of an ecosystem that is great and small, to infinity and in all directions.

Style of farming is also about choice and there are many.

So, what’s my choice?

I chose to develop a ‘systems’ approach to farming that seeks to strike an intuitive balance between that which was the pre-existing natural landscape and the postcolonial cleared or ‘disrupted’ landscape.

If we are to take our cues from what was ‘preexisting and functional’ as a statement of stability then core elements of the design and investment leans heavily towards integration of many complementary natural and build structures.

Diversity, robustness and the inter relationship of influencing factors sun land water air biology and management all come into play when you look at principles of a systems design.

Those features are expressed through matters of enhancing vegetation cover, landscape hydration and soil health management.

If you are to coin a ‘phrase’ describing this approach then ‘agroecological’ is a near fit though that term in itself does not capture the subtleties and full extent of the applied planning and implementation philosophy. You will have to venture into indigenous thinking and landscape management and connection to get a full appreciation of the other layers.

Put simply the cornerstones of life come via the grace of sun energy water air and biology. If there is ‘life’ it logically needs to be ‘lived’ and therefore the expression of vitality is a core measure of how we see and experience things going on here and elsewhere.

Vitality and it’s expression through birds, bees, ants, earthworms, flowers and lustre is a very important measure of natural function that is good enough to simply experience rather than exact.

What are the next steps?

Ecology is forever dynamic and so to ‘farms’ as a subset. Unfortunately denial and disconnect are two human factors that drag a long heavy chain for substantive change in a reasonable timeframe however obvious the need.

Fear and doubt two other. Not insurmountable emotions once out in the open though often lurk in the valley of death shadows for many considering transitional moves to better preservation of ecosystem values at a farm level.

Notwithstanding the need for pathway guidance aided and abetted by policy support and fair investment the real barrier to overcoming adversity seems to rest in the matter of expressed will.

I am encouraged that there are many innovative and aligned people coming together to engage and share knowledge and collectively set about the task of making good better in a positive wilful manner.

Groups like ORICoop, COBWA in Western Australia are in place because there is care for people and the planet and an expressed will to advocate truth and transparency in the clean food production and ecosystems leadership space.

Why is it important?

If new life awaits, indeed a human foetus is the personification of evolving life then it deserves the best in sustenance and opportunity.

I personally am happy to make a statement here that farming as we do to deliver a product which is grown in a manner it is and with wellness to all who consume it is with the best of intent and a heartfelt gift in return.

Hungry for more ||

Click here to view the Certified Organic Biodynamic Western Australia (COBWA) website

Click here to access the Organic Farmers Facebook Group

Click here to register for the Eco-Credit with ORICoop